Missing your Cali reds? Niagara’s Bella Terra has the answer you’re looking for
In these days of disruptive tariffs and boycotts of American wines, more and more…
Rick VanSickle
While Wine Watch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Rick VanSickle.
Ontario rushes to fill empty LCBO shelves with local VQA wine, plus Vintage picks
As the LCBO acted swiftly to remove all U.S. booze from its store shelves last week,…
Westcott a case study for the road to success in Niagara wine country
There’s an old saying in the wine business, build it and they will come. But nothing…
Introducing you to Gnilseir, a new grape about to take Niagara wine country by storm
It’s a grape that’s fallen so far out of favour you can’t even whisper its name…
Shining a light on age-worthy Niagara Chardonnays from Stonebridge Vineyard
It was fascinating to get an up-close look at the aging process for Niagara…
Well played, Canada, well played … plus new Two Sisters 2020 red wines in review
That was one wild week in the world of Canadian wine, from tariffs to a ban on…
UPDATED: Wine on the frontline in nasty fight over Trump tariffs. Here’s how you can help.
Reaction to U.S. president Donald Trump’s misguided trade war with Canada has been…
Historic Elgin County Skye Chase winery getting ready for big reveal this spring
Southwestern Ontario’s oldest winery will now be its newest, with the Skye Chase…
The big leap that paid off for Niagara’s Back 10 Cellars
Twenty-three years ago, Andrew Brooks had no idea how to drive a tractor, let…
Niagara’s 16 Mile Cellar winemaker releases no wine before its time
No wine before its time is a credo that Niagara’s 16 Mile Cellar winemaker…
Wines in Niagara’s Most Thrilling Red and White Wines of 2024
There will come a day when the apparent ocean of Niagara wines from the unicorn…
Our lucky 13 Most Thrilling Ontario Sparkling Wines of 2024
Ontario winemakers keep raising the bar higher and higher when it comes to sparkling…
You couldn’t write a better Hollywood script for this new Niagara wine brand
Some Niagara wine stories are scripted right down to the final detail, but this one is…
Flat Rock cellar raid, Nyarai back in action, a unique Gris from Last House
A rare opportunity awaits Niagara wine lovers this weekend as Flat Rock Cellars…
Axing tax on wine a holiday ‘surprise’, plus a tsunami of Niagara wine reviews
A Christmas gift from the federal government to give wine lovers a 13% tax…
10 glorious years for Two Sisters, a local Gamay Nouveau released and Vintages picks
We walked into the unknown at the new Two Sisters Vineyards winery unannounced on…
A deep dive into the wildly diverse portfolio from Niagara’s Leaning Post
Ilya and Nadia Senchuk, owners of Niagara’s Leaning Post Wines, have never been…
For Niagara’s Mio Vineyard, their incredible journey is just beginning
Eight years ago, Corey Mio hadn’t even tried a glass of Niagara wine let alone…
Christmas comes early for Niagara wine lovers with upcoming LCBO release
For lovers of top-tier Niagara wines, Christmas is coming to you early at LCBO…
Bachelder’s 2022 Pinot and Chardonnay release a ‘classic, complex, cellarable vintage’
He’s madly jotting down notes in his journal — a wine savant bible of sorts — and…
‘Exciting’ times in Ontario as Costco sells wine — at better prices than the LCBO
It was quite the scene at the Stoney Creek Costco today as shelves were quickly…
Surprises, hits and misses after digging deep in cellar for aged Niagara wines
There were a few surprises, a head-scratcher, and a revelation after…
Something new from Trail Estate that will lift your spirits, plus #openlocalwine paused
Whether it’s hi-fi or lo-fi, Trail Estate Winery in Prince Edward County has been…
The evolution of Riverview Cellars Winery, a gem on the Niagara Parkway
Riverview Cellars Winery is one of the lucky few in the region to enjoy a captive…
Local wines pair perfectly with Thanksgiving and we serve up some suggestions
They don’t have the slick marketing campaigns or the attention that the bigger, more…
Cheers to 20 years of top Syrahs from Niagara’s Creekside Estate Winery
Shockwaves reverberated throughout the Niagara Fallsview Casino on Feb. 19, 2010,…
Dam, that was some hard grape picking, plus a primer for wine influencers to heed
A glass of wine never tasted as good as the Dam Chardonnay I enjoyed after…
Coming out party for The Crush’s Rennie Estate and 2027 Cellars wine
The first few perfect rows of Cabernet Sauvignon, planted on a rare west-facing…
The League of Farmers has a home of their own, plus our picks from LCBO releases
With a group clinking of glasses to welcome the grape harvest in Niagara, the…
Niagara bubbles best in the Americas, plus LCBO picks, B.C.’s River Stone reviews
Three Niagara sparkling wines bested all the others in a blind tasting of 131…
As harvest begins another huge grape surplus looms in Niagara
With harvest underway in Niagara, there’s a more concerning issue on the minds…
A tasty wine journey to Ottawa’s KIN Vineyards and the County’s Last House
It just isn’t easy making wine on the margins in Ontario but when winemakers get it…
Where wine meets cider, the bucolic world of Stoss Lee and Stock and Row
It has been said that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and maybe that is true…
Château des Charmes winemaker welcomes next chapter at historic winery
As one chapter closes on the historic Château des Charmes winery in Niagara,…
Cloudsley’s stunning ‘happy accident’ Pinot Noir, plus new wines reviewed
I had resisted the temptation to open that Pinot Noir that stared back at me in our…
Kirby, On Seven play a big role in the Ontario Chardonnay crusade
Staying on the Chardonnay bandwagon, there’s a new wave of producers who have…
Spotlight on Westcott Vineyards at the forefront of the Chardonnay evolution
There’s no question Ontario makes world-class Chardonnay, but just how far can the top…
Niagara College’s first female winemaker guiding students into future
A winemaker’s job can be a lonely one, unless you trade in that life for a new…
The rich history, colourful shirts and deep portfolio from Henry of Pelham’s Speck Brothers
It’s another stinkin’ hot day in Niagara and Paul Speck is running around collecting…
A family affair as Niagara’s Honsberger winery celebrates 10th anniversary
Honsberger Estate Winery has a farming history that dates back more than…
One last grand wine tasting as a new chapter begins at Featherstone winery
After 25 years of success, the Featherstone Estate Winery on Niagara’s Twenty…
The LCBO ordered to do better on VQA market share at their stores
In a rather startling letter to the LCBO, the provincial government has…
Wineries in Ontario making hybrid grapes cool again
When the Vintners Quality Alliance of Ontario was first envisioned in 1988 (and…
Show a little love for these Niagara wines caught in middle of LCBO strike
Well, now that the LCBO union, for the first time in its history, has gone on strike,…
Why so few care if the LCBO strikes or not on Friday, plus our Vintages picks
If history is any indication, a threatened LCBO strike in Ontario starting at…
Historic Niagara winery Chateau des Charmes sold to investment group
One of Ontario’s most historic and important wineries — Niagara’s Château des…
Key changes coming to VQA standards, plus two killer value wines, new Hip wines
Three key changes to VQA rules, that include the creation of a West Niagara…
Ontario wineries, bottle shops ramp up for looming strike at LCBO stores
LCBO workers, who could very well walk off the job on July 5, are forcing many Ontario…
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